The process
of buying a new horse can be a daunting and certainly one you need to go into
with your eyes wide open. It may take time and perseverance to find the perfect
match, but there is nothing more rewarding than experiencing that special bond
grow between horse and human.
If you’re
not sure where to begin on your quest to finding eternal equine happiness, read
on! Follow our easy ten step guide to help you on your way to finding your
dream horse.
1. First, question the commitment.
Are
you able to fulfil the financial commitment of owning a horse, and to care for
it to the highest standard? If
you’re a first-time buyer, check out this useful resource from the BHS which outlines the expected cost of owning a horse in the UK.
You must also make sure the
decision to buy a horse works around your lifestyle. Do you have time to do a horse justice
alongside your full-time job? Have you got suitable stabling arrangements? These are just some of the questions that you need to ask
yourself before you begin the process. If it’s looking positive so far, then
let’s begin!
2. Search for a horse online and offline!
There are loads of ways you can find out about horses that are for sale. Start off by browsing websites such as Horsemart, HorseQuest and Morzillo, then perhaps look further afield on Facebook groups such as 'Horses for sale and loan'. As technology is becoming more prevalent in the horse industry the days of endless printed advert pages in horsey magazines are diminishing. Still, its worth looking at the adverts in your local tack shop or feed merchants to see what may be for sale in your area!
3. Choose a type which is suitable for your lifestyle
and ability.
Do you dream of galloping an athletic
thoroughbred around a challenging cross country course, when your comfort zone
lies within the security of that indoor school? Be realistic, look for a type
which reflects you!
4. Take your time, there’s no rush!
You can’t help it, you’re human, as soon as you hit search
on Horsemart you’ll want to buy the first horse you set your eyes on. But hang
on one minute! Take a deep breath. There’s no rush. Only make the decision to
buy when it feels absolutely right. If you can’t find anything suitable, don’t
settle for second best! Be patient, keep checking www.Horsemart.co.uk every week
and try lots of horses until you find the perfect one.
5. Take someone with you to try the horse.
We advise you take someone with you when going to try a
horse. Ideally your trainer or someone with good equestrian knowledge to
provide an expert second opinion! Get them to video everything on your smartphone so you can watch
back when you get home.
6. Buy from a reputable seller.
If you are buying from a professional rider or horse dealer,
you should carry out some research online to verify that they are genuine. Social
media is a good place to start, see if you can find any testimonials from
people who have previously bought horses from them. You should also ask your
friends and equestrian connections if they have had an experience dealing with
them.
7. Ask lots of questions about the horses’ history.
It’s unlikely that the buyer would have owned the horse
since a foal, but they should have a good idea of it’s recent history. What had
the horse done when they bought it, and what have they done with it since? There’s
also some information you can find online, for example all British Eventing
competition records can be found at www.Britisheventing.com.
8. Go back for a second viewing.
Don’t get too carried away on your first visit, take time to
go home, look over videos that your trainer has taken sleep on it. If you think
this is ‘the one’, ask if you can go for a second viewing, preferably away from
home e.g. cross country schooling. It’s also good to view other horses within
your budget so you have a comparison!
9. Make sure
the horse has a passport and microchip
By law all horses must have an Equine Passport. It’s
essential you do a passport check to ensure that the horse and the passport
match (breed, age, height etc) ! Most horses are also microchipped, which makes
the verification process a lot easier! We also recommend that you check the
passport for the horses vaccination history as well as ownership history. If
the horse has had lots of different owners, why is this? Ask LOTS of questions!
Buying a horse is a huge investment, so don’t be tempted to
cut corners by opting for even a two-stage vetting! Getting a five stage pre-purchase
veterinary examination leaves no stones unturned. After briefing the vet on what
purpose you intend to buy the horse for, e.g. eventing / dressage etc , the
examination will begin with this criteria in mind.
Stage One: Overall examination
of confirmation, heart rate and breathing as well as checking for any
abnormalities such as sarcoids and old defects from old injuries.
Stage Two: Lameness
evaluation by trotting up on a hard surface in a straight line. This is
followed by flexion tests of the lower limbs and a lunging on each rein in
trot.
Stage Three: Observation of
the horse when under strenuous exercise, usually when ridden. The vet will
check for abnormal behaviour when mounting (such as a dipped back) and its
movement under saddle. After exercise, the vet will listen to the horses heart
and breathing.
Stage Four: A 20-30 minute
rest to check for any stiffness upon re-examination.
Stage Five: Finally, the horse will be trotted up once more and any areas of concern will be addressed. The vet will then take some blood samples. At this point, he is obliged to reveal his opinion to the buyer however does not yet have to do the same for the vendor.
In conclusion, perhaps one of the most daunting aspects of
buying a horse is the fear of the unknown. Knowing, and trusting the horse’s
health, ownership and training history from the vendor is very important, but
not always guaranteed to be accurate.
In the development of our 24/7 monitoring device we have worked alongside equine veterinarians, many of whom say that one of the most exciting aspects of Trackener is that it allows us to view a complete health history of a horse. Our dream at Trackener is that one day all horses will wear a Trackener device. This is a huge dream, but even if a small percentage of the worlds’ horses wore Trackener in five years time, the horse industry would become a much more honest place!
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